There are sometimes throughout life when we are constantly just going through the day-by-day motions; not really aware of our surroundings…we are so focused or so not-focused we are almost hypnotized. These past couple of weeks as I have been finishing school I have been completely hypnotized by all the homework and all the barriers that I have to jump through to get to the end. I find myself not remembering what is important in life or even what I had for breakfast (if I remembered to eat it) and this bothers me. Why do we get so distracted, or not distracted at all, during times of heightened stress, anxiety, or euphoria? We become hypnotized so our body isn't in a constant state of high stress or other emotion that us women tend to feel all the time.

This leads to me to my story; that time I was hypnotized. I am actually talking about my senior after prom party and a hypnotist came and hypnotized a huge group of us. I don't remember much but I do remember some things and it's pretty hilarious I might add. I will show you pictures that will explain it all, but the funny part is towards the end, the hypnotist snapped her fingers for us to become un-hypnotized and it didn't work for me. I remember being so happy and care free and I think my mind and body enjoyed it so much that they didn't want to lose that euphoric state. The hypnotist had to pull me and another gal aside to try to bring us out of these mental states and it still didn't really work for me. After the hypnotist left, the prom committee started calling names to collect prizes from all the games we had played. I was so overjoyed and excited that everyone was winning…I was cheering and clapping my hands!! It was such a fun moment. The next thing I remember is my best friend driving me home because the chaperones didn't want me driving, so much for my after-after party plans (just kidding). I went to bed right when I got home and the next day I was back to my old-self :(.

Anyway, after doing some research I found that a lot of people don't easily come out of hypnosis. Why you ask? Apparently their bodies have been in a state of stress and anxiety for so long that their mind's enjoy this sense of euphoria. Take for example war veterans. There have been some instances when they participate and they don't easily snap out of it, I can imagine why. I am in no way comparing my life to a war veterans' but when I look back I think of everything that I was going through, my parents were in the midst of a divorce, my friends and I were all moving different places, my boyfriend and I were putting more distance in the long distance relationship, and just that day I got in a brutal fight with my mom over my prom hair. (The woman who did my updo literally put a bird's nest on the back of my head, I was in tears and I took it all out, all $100 worth, oops). Needless to say, I quite enjoyed my time being hypnotized, and you shall too, let's take a look:

Sorry for the blurry photo… I think I thought something was really funny because I am laughing my butt off.

And again with the laughing.

Obviously there was dancing, and I rocked that gym floor. I even slapped my own butt.

Not sure what this was about.

Ok so I know this one, we were driving in a car and a cop was chasing us and we were going through all sorts of cornfields and just when we thought the lost the cop, we see the red and blue lights behind us. You see the two guys next to me are thinking, "Oh Sh**" and I just burst into tears. I watched the video and the hypnotist came up to me and asked why I was crying and I cried out, "Because he caught me!"

More crying.

And more.

Now we had to pretend that our hypnotist was the worst hypnotist ever...

And then it got REALLY cold.

This is apparently us laughing at our knees. Our knees were telling us jokes and I just couldn't stop:)

A very bad small came into the gym.

I am not sure what these last two are about because I can't remember but they are too funny not to post.

The end result: the girl next to me on the bottom, well, we thought someone was dead because they weren't waking up. That's when our friends realized we weren't out of our hypnosis yet.

Freaky.

Thats all folks. In conclusion: I support hypnosis, everyone deserves happiness and even if it is only an hour where they are in a euphoric state, let them enjoy it. Another thing you should know, apparently people who are hypnotized don't do anything they wouldn't do in real life, just thought I should mention that one.

Hello lovelies, I must start out by saying I'm sorry I was absent last week…my immune system shuts down during very important and stressful weeks and the flu took over! I also want to apologize in advance, I may be absent these next couple of weeks as I finish up school and graduate! I hope you are all enjoying this insanely beautiful weather, I'm obsessed.

OK, so the reality of graduating has set in for me and I'm freaking out, along with the other thousands of seniors. I have realized I am now a big girl. I have to put on my big girl panties, buy a briefcase, and suck it up…I am officially going into the real world. I technically I have some schooling ahead of me and attend medical school (fingers crossed) but in any sorts…I am all grown up. This is a terrifying transition and there are many realities that you (and I) must learn.

1. Since we are grown up now we get to live in a grown up house. Otherwise known as a really cheap apartment, or mom and dad's house.

2. Our life will be picture perfect, we will wake up early, work out, make coffee, and casually head to work…on time;)

3. We get to look professional and classy everyday…little do the rest of our coworkers know we are wearing the same pants 3 weeks in a row because these are the only dressy pants we own because we have spent all our money on dry shampoo because our crappy apartment doesn't get hot water.

4. All of those fancy hair appointments we go to now…yea we will probably not be able to afford them for awhile so we will color our hair from that fancy box you get from Walgreens. That will go well.

5. Let us not forget all the student loans that you will have to payback. You and I both better get to work.

6. This probably should have been number one, but it is good to probably get a job before all of the realities above sink in. That girl or guy next to you in the elevator on your way to your interview…they're applying too. Take Them Down.

7. This is a great time in your life to enjoy new experiences and try new things, however, I would not recommend tattooing these experiences, you will regret it.

8. If you are single, dating will be so much fun! Little do you know your boss will have you working until late hours in the night because well, your fresh out of college. Technically you are a FRESHman, again. Say bye-bye to dating for awhile.

9. Some of us aren't even done with school because we decided to be way cool and go to grad school or something like that. AKA college graduation is no big deal. Buckle up, we got a loooooong way to go.

10. The reality: most of us have no idea what we are doing or where we are going. And that is all.

I know many of you, more like most of you, have experienced some sort of loss in your life. Whether this loss being a loss of a loved one, friend, colleague, or acquaintance, it is difficult no matter the circumstance. When I say loss, I don't necessarily mean death…it could be anything. As many of you know I work at a care center (nursing home). Due to HIPAA rules I am not allowed to say names or give out specific details but I can tell you this…one of my residents has become a part of my family. Over the past 10 months i've worked there she has unknowingly wedged a large space in my heart just for her; we will call her my sunshine. My sunshine has Alzheimer's disease and the disease has taken over her brain to the point of no return. She doesn't remember much but she always remembers her prayers and her smiles. This lady, my sunshine, has become like a grandmother to me…only more.

Well, yesterday I noticed something was wrong with my sunshine. I was sitting beside her (like I normally do) and she all of the sudden sunk to one side. Long story short, the nurse declared she had a stroke…the rest of the night she wouldn't respond when you said her name and she wouldn't open her eyes. Before I left I gave her a big hug, hoping and praying that it wasn't the last. I told my sunshine that I loved her and she stayed sleeping peacefully.

My family is very small; my father has lost both parents on his side and my mother's side has many issues to the point of no communication. As many of you know, I am going to school to hopefully be a doctor and one thing I hear from so many people is that a doctor cannot get attached and must be very strong when dealing with patients. I say screw what they say. I think I can be the best doctor just because I DO care too much. I want to be that doctor who uses all her free time sitting by her patients and getting to know them that much more. What I am trying to get at is I feel as though I experienced a loss. My sunshine has become my family, my old lady friend, and she holds such a near and dear place in my heart. Although she has not passed she certainly gave me a glimpse of what it would look like if she had.

There are points in your life when you realize nothing else in the world matters but the people you love. I realized that today…nothing matters except those people in my life. Thank you to all those who care for me and have loved me, and will continue to do this…it means more than you can ever know.

This post was written for my sunshine. I only hope that your journey to Heaven will be peaceful and calm. I pray that when you go, you will take with you the knowledge of my love and care for you.You have given more to me than you will ever know, and for that I am blessed. You will always be in my heart.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend. It looks like the weather was beautiful almost everywhere so that is always pleasant! My family and I went to church on Sunday followed by a nice waffle breakfast and then we prepared a ham dinner for later in the day. On top of that the Easter bunny showed up and and we got to go on an egg hunt…that is always so much fun;). The weather was so beautiful in SoDak that we got to spend a lot of time outside!

+The weekend started off with a lazy Friday and Saturday…much needed relaxation time for this girl.

+I spent time with my dad at a hockey game and saw the cutest little blue buffalo EVER. Meet tiptoe…

I just want to start off by saying thanks for the support on yesterday's post! It is so great to know that you readers read and care about what I have to say. This Friday I actually found five things to rave about…yay me!

1. Easter
Um, this is an obvious one, but I love Easter. My family goes to church and then we eat a yummy ham dinner. The Easter bunny always visits….I love trying to find my Easter basket in the morning, that is one sneaky bunny;). It is just a fun day! Oh, and we can't forget about the infamous Easter dress. This is a very important detail of the day, those pastel dresses and matching knickers are a must…ham doesn't taste the same without them.

I mean look at this floral print…to die for! And the matching straw hat, I was a knockout.

2. American Blogger. This is a movie coming out that I am frankly so excited to see. People all over the country get on the internet to share ideas, thoughts, and feelings to the rest of the world. Just watch…it's pretty amazing.

3. bareMinerals New Foundation.

I am a firm user of mineral foundation. If you have been reading my blog you will see in this post that I have had enough issues with my face to last a lifetime. I am actually pretty excited though because bareMinerals is coming out with a liquid serum foundation!

4. Boyfriend Jeans. Need a pair, want a pair. Enough said.

5. Family Time

I have been so busy lately I haven't been able to come home. I finally have some time off and with it being Easter weekend I get to come home for awhile! I am so excited. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and enjoy your time with family and friends.

This is a post I have wanted to write for a while.
I feel like so many children have divorced parents or crazy family situations
and there are not a lot of people that understand what they are going through.
As I am sure many of you know, or could have guessed, my parents are divorced.
To some this may not matter, but it effects so much more than you think.

I want to share my story and what I have learned
because you may be in this situation or you may know someone who is. Don't
worry mom and dad; I won't give out the really bad details. For starters, my
parents were married for 12 years…I wouldn't classify all of these years as
great but they made it through 12. The divorce papers appeared when I was a
freshman in college; needless to say I was devastated. It was the most awkward
and depressing move-in ever! I took the divorce really hard because I felt like
I was always in the middle; I wanted to be there for both my mom and dad, so
naturally I was playing both sides. My sister took it as she would pick one
side, and that's what she did. My sweet baby brother was just shuffled back and
forth; hopeful for the day they would get back together. That didn't happen.

One of my biggest hopes when they were getting a
divorce is that they could be that divorced couple you see on TV that still
talks and are actually friends, that didn't happen either. We are going on the
fifth year of the divorce being final and things are still hairy.

There are many misconceptions and realities to
having divorced parents that I wish I would've known about, because learning
about these things is not easy.

1. A lot of people say that in divorce, many kids
think it is their fault. I think that is horse crap. I know way too many
divorcees with younger children and have never heard that in my life. (It
doesn't mean it doesn't exist though) During my parents divorce, I never felt
that way and I know my siblings didn't either. In any case, the children are
more devastated and confused as to what is going on. Some kids may be so
confused that they do feel like they did something because the parents are not
telling them anything except, "Mom and dad aren't living together
anymore."

2. Depending on the situation, most divorces get
worse after the papers are filed. There are mediations about who gets this car
and that toothbrush and this set of plates. And then add kids to the mix it's
like who get the kids this day and that day, but oh I travel on this day. It
really is a trial time of figuring out the best schedule that works for both
parents and kids…not easy.

3. It affects the children's view about love and
marriage. Thankfully, I was in a relationship with the same guy I am with today
when the divorce took place. My boyfriend was able to be that crutch that I
needed and to remind me that love does exist and the biggest reminder was that
we aren't my parents. My sister on the other hand, went through a very long
phase of never wanting to get married. This is a time where not only are the
parents trying to find love again, but the children are trying to figure out
what love means, and if marriage is even possible.

4. This is a time to become closer to your family.
After my first year of college, I think it is safe to say I "ran"
away from all the problems…ran 5 states away. I did a good job pushing my
family away when I actually needed them the most. Even though a divorce seems
like a family is "breaking up" it doesn't mean we shouldn't hold on
very tightly to the family we do have.

5. Both of your parents, depending on their age,
will go through a transition period. The transition is going from being married
to being single. Motorcycles and poker runs will be on the dad's agenda, while
extensions, excessive dating, and heavy workouts will be on your mom's. I hated
this period. Especially me being in college I always felt like I should be in
their place…little did I know, both parents NEED this time to figure out who
they are without their significant other. Trust me, they will come back down to
earth…eventually.

6. Your parents need love and support. I found this
out the hard way that even though there was this crazy transition into single
life, they still want and need their children's love and support. My siblings
and I are very close so we were able to lean on each other during this time,
but my parents didn't have that. I don't expect little kids to understand this
but teenagers and 20-somethings…remind them how much you love and care for
them…its worth a million bucks to them during this time.

7. They will be happier. I never thought my parents
could be happy without each other, but when I look back, I see just how unhappy
they both were in their marriage. And it is the greatest gift to have parents
that are so happy to be where they are these days and to have found themselves
as individuals.

8. Don't give up. Things will never be the same
again. Things will be hard…all the time. However, every once in awhile you will
have moments of clarity when the fog of divorce lifts away and happiness will
shine through.

Divorce isn't the breaking up of a family, is it recreating a new
definition that fits your family better.

Our last hug as a whole family. The whole part may be gone, but the family is still there.

Happy Friday and let's bring on the weekend! I have been a terrible blogger lately and I would normally bring you the Friday Five but I wasn't feeling it today so instead here is a quick video on a beauty mask that I love to use, check it out!

Sidenotes: Remember, what may work for me might not work for you. Don't be afraid to consult a dermatologist about this, although they may think we are nuts. If an egg looks funky or is expired, don't use it.

This is what the egg looks like when dry…can't move my face!

This is what my face looks like today…no filter. I feel like it is brighter and more luminescent.

Well, there you have it. A quick and simple beauty mask that actually gives results (for me anyway). I hope ya'll have a great weekend and I will see you back on Monday.

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